KUCHING – About 30 secondary schools from the region are expected to go all out to win the 10th Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus Inter-school Debating Championship trophy.
The four-day event, to be held from 2 to 5 February, will see close to 300 students, teachers and adjudicators converge at the university.
A total of 90 teams are expected in the competition.
“We expect schools from all over the country and the region to sign up for the competition,” said Christina Yin, advisor of the Swinburne Sarawak Debaters Club which organises the championship.
To date schools from Brunei, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Sabah as well as schools from Kuching have confirmed participation.
“Schools now see the importance of debates as platforms for students to polish their command of the English language, presentation and oratory skills apart from boosting their confidence in public speaking,” she said.
Yin, the associate dean for preparatory studies with the Faculty of Language and Communication, expects more schools from outside Sarawak to join the fray, among them a school from Indonesia.
Last year a school from Selangor emerged champion while an Indonesian school won the title in 2012.
Adjudicators for the upcoming championship include a senior academic from Universiti Malaya, the Malaysian Institute of Debate and Public Speaking, and at least 10 others with vast experience in debates.
Held annually since 2006, the Swinburne Sarawak debating championship has come a long way.
“What started as a small event, initiated and put together by Swinburne Sarawak students 10 years ago, has today grown in popularity among secondary schools,” said Yin who has been involved from the beginning.
“Looking back, we’re amazed that we’ve come this far. But most importantly, we’re pleased that schools see the significance of the championship in terms of how it could make a difference in their students.”
Yin also attributed success to the support from the senior management of Swinburne Sarawak, Sarawak Education Department, schools and other parties who had contributed in one way or another.
Entry to next month’s championship is still open. The closing date for registration is this Friday, 23 January. More details may be obtained by emailing Yin at cyin@swinburne.edu.my or by calling 082-416 353 ext 8769.